Exit the Actress (26 page)
Authors: Priya Parmar
Tuesday, September 11, 1666—Official Notations For Privy Council Meeting on This Day to Be Entered into the Log-book
Notations taken by Secretary of State Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington
Eight p.m.
The Privy Council met to consider Mr. Wren’s plans for the rebuilding. They are detailed and exquisitely drawn but so quickly despatched after the fire as to cause some surprise among the members. The Royal Society was perturbed not to have approved these plans first, as Wren is one of their charter members, but we are glad to begin the reconstruction with all due haste.
Our reports show that many Londoners are erecting temporary shelters and living on the sites of their destroyed homes. Those Londoners who have cellars have roofed them over and are living within. The disentangling of property rights in the city will be left to the magistrates to decide, but it is a matter that must be dealt with fairly and promptly. It is unfortunate but necessary for some to forfeit their property to the Crown, as the streets must be widened to prevent any future calamity of this kind. If said home-owners feel they have been dealt with unfairly, they may petition the Crown.
His Majesty took Mr. Wren’s plans to his own apartments to give them further consideration.
Nothing further to report,
Secretary of State Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington
Hill House, Surrey
Teddy has arrived to keep us company!
“The smoke
ruined
my new striped silk chaise longue—that was really the final straw, my petals. A man can only take so much,” he said, primly removing his pale leather gloves. “Filthy beastly thing, fire—very destructive.”
“And so you walked?” Rose asked, tearing a piece off her sugar bun.
We were seated in the garden under the shade of a horse-chestnut tree on what felt like a summer afternoon. The dapper pink gladioli I planted last spring near the boxwood hedge had finally bloomed, the blush-pink peonies—unfashionable but one of my favourites—were out after I had given up on them, and the air smelled of fresh earth and honeysuckle. So clean and clear and far from soot-choked London.
“You walked to
where
?” I asked, puzzled. Teddy lived in Milk Street.
“Out.” He said vaguely, reaching for a warm bun. “Well, out to my wretched cousin Henry’s house—I always disliked that he lived in provincial little Clapham, but that day it suited me very well. Me and the ten or so who tagged along in the hope of finding food and a bath. Cousin Henry was not happy I had invited company—terrible curmudgeonly man.”
“Clapham!” Teddy is not known for physical exertion, and the village of Clapham was miles away. “How awful,” I said, imagining a smoke-stained Teddy trudging through the fiery streets.
“Once I fully accepted that my shoes were ruined, it was all right—the lilac velvet pair with the black heels—
dommage.
I am going to see if that lovely little man in Honey Lane next to All Hallows Church can repair them, but then he might not be there now,” Teddy mused.
“Honey Lane might not be there now,” Rose said, reaching for another bun. “I think I heard the church and churchyard burnt along with the houses in North Cheapside.” Rose furrowed her forehead, trying to recall.
“That lovely old church! Wasn’t it there from the Crusades?” I asked.
“Mmm, before, I think,” Teddy said. “As long as my lovely St. Mary Magdalen is still standing.”
I smiled. Teddy often attends morning service at that beautiful church
and is surprisingly devout (although he swears it is the cherubic choristers he goes to see).
“How long did you walk?” asked Rose, tipping back her bonnet and tilting her face to the warm afternoon sun.
“Hours,” Teddy sighed. “We were quite a jolly bunch once we got clear of that fiasco of a fire brigade. I understand the king came and sorted out that silly mayor. They say Bonnie Charlie actually rode so close his coat caught fire.
Quel courage.
”
“Yes, Hart wrote to me and said he has inspired the city with his bravery and care.”
“Yes, but will he
care
enough to rebuild it?” Rose asked shrewdly, licking the sticky sugar from her fingers.
Later
Mother is proving unruly and difficult. Each day Cook hides all the spirits, and Mother spends all day searching for them. Yesterday she ransacked the winter store-rooms and upended a rack of dried hops. Tiresome.
H
AMPTON
C
OURT,
E
NGLAND
T
O OUR DAUGHTER, THE
M
ADAME OF
F
RANCE AT
S
T.
C
LOUD
F
ROM
H
ER
M
AJESTY
Q
UEEN
H
ENRIETTA
M
ARIA
S
EPTEMBER
12, 1666
Ma fille,
What an ordeal! The footmen quite lost their heads in all the commotion. I insisted that they desist their panicking and think
properly.
I ordered all the birds in the aviary set free as the groundskeeper could not manage to have their travelling cages prepared in time. Unfortunately, the birds flew only as far as the roof, and from there they watched the frenzy below. It will be impossible to round them all up again.
All was in order and then at the last moment I remembered the christening robe. Imagine if we had left it! Luckily, the palace remained untouched (including the chapel), although I shall have to go over the household inventory most carefully, as this is just the
sort of opportune moment when a servant could make off with something priceless. Crisis can often bring out the very worst in people.
With love,
Maman
Note—
The servants actually wanted to waste precious time packing their own things. Can you imagine? What could they have had worth saving?
S
T.
G
ERMAIN,
F
RANCE
T
O
H
ER
M
AJESTY
Q
UEEN
H
ENRIETTA
M
ARIA
F
ROM
P
RINCESSE
H
ENRIETTE
-A
NNE,
D
UCHESSE D’
O
RLÉANS
S
EPTEMBER
16, 1666
Maman,
There are awful pamphlets circulating in France (printed by the Dutch, no doubt). They claim that the recent tragedy in London was the will of God, visiting his vengeance on the English for burning the Dutch ships.
Please, please, do your very best to ensure that neither James nor Charles sees this terrible libel. James, because he would rush headlong into a brave but foolhardy course of action, punishing printers hither and yon, and Charles, because he would believe it is true.
With love,
Minette
To be delivered by hand to Mrs. Ellen Gwyn, Hill House, Surrey
September 20, 1666
London
My dear,
It was announced today that the king has employed a young architect of genius, Mr. Christopher Wren, to help guide our city to its rebirth. Unfortunately, his city-wide plan would require too many of our citizenry to forfeit their homes, as the restructuring would be quite comprehensive, but His Majesty has given him
the rebuilding of the churches of London, St. Paul’s, of course, being the primary concern. (They say the churches were the gems in Wren’s plans anyway.)
The London horses are already growing accustomed to the sounds of rebuilding, but I am afraid our Ruby is in for a dreadful noisy shock. She hates the sounds of carpentry!
I long to see you,
Hart
September 21, 1666—Hill House (late)
“Mmm, I hear Wren draws scrumptious things,” Teddy said, stretching his toes out towards the fire. Avoiding his wife and his overbearing in-laws, he has been staying here with us.
“Isn’t he the one from Oxford?” I asked sleepily. I remembered hearing about him during the plague.
“Yes, the short don we saw striding around the Bodleian—genius comes in such amusing packages, don’t you think?”
Note
—We heard this afternoon that both All Hallows and St. Mary Magdalen were destroyed by the fire. “Mr. Wren will build us some new ones,” I said, trying to comfort.
September 21, 1666—Official Notations for Privy Council Meeting on This Day to Be Entered into the Log-book
Notations taken by Secretary of State Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington
Ten a.m.
Seven petitions today for royal debts in arrears:
Mr. John Wink: Jeweller—1,400 pounds (ruby earrings for Lady Castlemaine)
Mr. Jacob Worthing: Jeweller—2,800 pounds (diamond ring for Lady Castlemaine and a gold timepiece for the queen)
Mr. Francis Hardecastle: Jeweller—600 pounds (jewelled ring for Mrs. Moll Davis)
Mr. Eliot Flat: Milliner—500 pounds (three ensembles for Lady Castlemaine, gloves not included)
Mr. Samuel Parish: Tailor—1,200 pounds (six ensembles for Lady Castlemaine, gloves and corsetry included)
Mr. Christopher Hatley: Clockmaker—1,450 pounds (ten small gold clocks for His Majesty)
Mr. Richard Wincomb: Member of His Majesty’s wind orchestra—2 guineas (back pay)
It was suggested among the council that the Crown find the funds to meet these debts privately, rather than apply to the Parliament.
In addition: In order to become less reliant on foreign imports, now that much of our own industry is destroyed, the king has banned French fashions for the foreseeable future. No plans on how to enforce such a law.
Nothing further to report,
Secretary of State Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington